Test with torasemide in the differential diagnosis of dyspnea in patients with cardiovascular diseases

: We included into this study 21 patients with a cardiovascular disease and effort dyspnea of at least one month duration. In accordance with result of tissue Doppler echocardiography all patients were divided in 2 groups: 14 patients with confirmed chronic heart failure (CHF) and 7 patients without CHF. All patients performed 6-minute walk test before and one day after receiving 5 mg of torasemide. In the group of patients with CHF 6-minute walk distance after torasemide increased by 52 m, in the group of patients without CHF this distance was reduced by 16 m. Test with torasemide can be used for differential diagnosis of dyspnea in patients with cardiovascular diseases. Increase of 6-minute walk distance one day after 5 mg of torasemide by 15 meters or more evidence in favor of cardiac origin of dyspnea with a sensitivity of 89%. The lack of increment 6-minute walk distance give evidence against heart failure as a cause of dyspnea with a specificity of 82%.